Oil and gas law experts will converge on Abuja from March 29 to 30 to explore the future of African energy markets.
Organised by the Lawyers in Energy Network, its theme is African future markets in energy transition: laws, policies and international regulations.
Executive Secretary of the association, Raqueeba Oloko, said in a statement that the summit, which will hold at the Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja, aims to influence the energy laws, policies and international regulations of African countries in the transitioning period by engaging stakeholders on the laws, policies and international regulations that would best develop the African energy market.
She said participants will hear directly from industry leaders, network with influencers and industry experts face to face, gain and share new ideas and best practices, amongst other benefits.
Speakers include Secretary-General African Petroleum Producers Organisation, Dr. Omar Farouk; Technical Adviser on Gas Business to the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Justice O. Derefaka; pioneer chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Section on Business Law and Chairman, Lawyers in Energy Network, George Etomi; a director in the presidency Terhemen Andzenge; a professor of energy law Yinka Omorogbe (SAN), amongst others.
The conference will be a hybrid event (physical and virtual) and participants are to register via the association’s website.
Oloko said: “The future of the African energy markets is dicey with the impact of COVID-19 and the current transition of the energy industry from fossil fuels to renewable energy.
“Africa, with a huge reserve of untapped crude oil and gas, is still an underdeveloped economy and would be greatly affected by these transitions if not guided by the proper laws, policies or regulations.
“This year’s conference will focus on how the laws, policies and regulations of African countries can help the African energy markets during this transition period.
“It will provide background information on the laws, policies and international regulations of the African energy markets; explain the current laws, policies and international regulations applicable in the energy sector of the different African countries and identify the different benefits and challenges of each law, policies and international regulations as applies to each country.
“The conference will make recommendations for regulatory solutions to these laws, policies and international regulations that can better improve the future of the African energy markets.”